Pump



Oct- 19, 1965 w. o. WELLS 3,212,444

` :PUMP

Filed March 27, 1963 I/Jl/ Wa//ace O. l/Ve //\s INVENTOR.

Oct. 19, 1965 w. o. WELLS PUMP 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1965 United States Patent O 3,212,444 PUMP Wallace O. Wells, 1722 Lynn Drive, Garland, Tex. Filed Mar. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 268,308 4 Claims. (Cl. 103-4) This invention relates .to well pumps, and more particularly to pumps adapted to pump liquid from multiple zones.

In recent years many wells have been completed by the so-called slim hole method in which smaller diameter pipe is used for casing the hole. The well is produced through this small diameter pipe. For instance, wells are being completed today with 2%" O.D. tubing cemented in the well and functioning as casing and tubing.

Pumping of multiple zones in such wells is extremely dicult due to the small diameter available for the pump, and the lack of a pump design which gives adequate displacement for each pump plunger.

It is an object of this invention to provide a multizone pump for use in slim hole wells.

Another object is to provide a multizone pump having maximum displacement for each plunger to obtain greater production.

Another object is to simplify construction of well pumps and eliminate the necessity of a great number of concentric tubes -to convey liquid.

Another object is to provide a multizone well pump which is simple in construction and eliminates the necessity of closely measuring the length of tubing and rods between the upper and lower pump `to insure that the length of tubing and rods mates with the length between the cooperating packers.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawings, the specification and the claims.

In the drawings, wherein an illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown, and wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view in vertical cross-section through a well pipe and pump constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGURES 2A through 2G, inclusive, are continuation views partially in quarter-section and partially in crosssection illustrating a pump constructed in accordance with this invention; and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2B.

In accordance with this invention, a two-zone pump employs a cross-over built into the upper pump plunger. Production from the lower zone is transmitted through the connection between the two pump plungers into the pump barrel above the upper plunger and thence into the open pipe. Production from the upper zone is through the hollow sucker rod which reciprocates the two pump plungers. This feature of cross-over within the upper pump plunger permits the pump to be very simple in form, eliminates the multiple concentric tubes usually found in two-zone pumps, and permits maximum pump plunger displacement with adequate size valves controlling flow.

Referring irst to FIGURE 1, the pipe represents the conventional casing, While this might be tubing in a well with a packer between the perforations and the opening at the bottom of the pipe, this pump is especially useful in slim hole wells, and its use and construction will be related to slim hole wells. The pipe 10 has a plurality of perforations 11 through which liquid from an upper production zone enters the pipe 10. The pipe has an opening 12 at its lower end for permitting entry of liquid from a lower production Zone. Obviously the lower zone could be produced through screens, perforations, or the like.

The well pump includes a body indicated generally at 13. This body includes an upper pump barrel 14 and a lower pump barrel 15. A lower inlet port 16 provides iluid communication between the exterior of the body and the lower section of the lower pump barrel 15.

A standing valve indicated generally at 17 controls flow through the lower inlet port 16.

Upper inlet port means provided by a plurality of ports 18 connect the exterior of the body with the lower section of the upper pump barrel.

A standing valve indicated generally at 19 controls flow through the upper port 18.

An upper pump plunger 21 and a lower pump plunger 22 are reciprocally mounted within the upper and lower barrels 14 and 15, respectively. Means for connecting the two plungers together is provided by the connecting rod 23.

A suitable seal 24 seals between the body and the connecting rod 23.

A main passageway extends through both pump plungers 21 and 22 and the connecting rod 23. This passageway is provided by passageway 25 in the upper plunger 21, passageway 26 in the connecting rod 23, and passageway 27 in the lower pump plunger.

A lower traveling valve indicated generally at 28 controls ow through the main passageway 25, 26 and 27.

Outlet port means is provided by a plurality of ports 29 which connect the exterior of the body with the upper section of the upper barrel 14.

A rod 31 is connected to the upper pump plunger for reciprocating both plungers. A passageway through the rod 31 and upper plunger 21 is provided by a passageway 32 in rod 31 and apassageway 33 in the upper pump plunger 25.

A traveling valve indicated generally at 34 is provided in the passageway through the rod and upper pump plunger and controls flow therethrough.

Seal means 35 is provided on the body below the out.- let end of the outlet ports 29 and above the inlet ends of the two inlet port means 16 and 18.

A lower seal seals between the pipe 10 and the pump body. Preferably this lower seal is provided by a seal 26 carried by the pump body. This seal is positioned between the inlet end of the lower inlet 16 and the inlet end of the upper inlet ports 18. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the seal 36 might be provided by a seal pre-positioned in the pipe into which the pump body would stab. Also, instead of the resilient seal indicated, a metallic bottom seal may be used. In any event, it is only necessary that some form of seal be provided for separating the uid from the two formations to be produced.

It will be appreciated that the upper end 15a of the lower barrel 15 inherently has a problem of handling fluid therein due to its changing volume. In some instances this problem is handled by porting the upper end of the lower barrel to the exterior of the body. With this arrangement downward movement of the plunger draws liquid from the upper zone into the upper end of the barrel and upward movement of the plunger returns this liquid to the upper zone. t l

Preferably the problem of changing volume of the upper end of the lower barrel is solved by using this chamber as a second stage of a pump. This prevents gas locks from forming. A branch passageway is provided by a plurality of passageways 37 which connect the upper section of the lower barrel 15 with the portion 27 of the main passageway through the lower plunger 22. This permits liquid and gas within the lower barrel 15 to move into the upper section 15a of the barrel on downward movement of the plunger.

An auxiliary traveling valve indicated generally at 38 is provided in the connecting rod 23. When liquid only is being pumped, the auxiliary valve is unseated on both the up and downstroke of plunger 22. When gas is .present the auxiliary valve 38 remains seated on the down stroke and the gas accumulated in the upper section 15a of barrel 15. On the up stroke this gas is compressed and forced out through the auxiliary valve 38.

In operation the pump is run into the hole on a suitable string of hollow sucker rod and positioned in the well. The pump body may be held in position by any desired hold-down mechanism.

As the pump begins its down stroke, traveling valves 34 and 28 will be unseated to permit llow of liuid therepast. The standing valves 17 and 19 will seat. Fluid within the lower section of the upper barrel 14 will be forced into the passageway 32 of the reciprocating rod 31. Fluid in the lower section of lower barrel 15 will pass through the branch passageway 37 into the upper section 15a of the lower barrel and some uid may pass into the connecting rod 23. When the pump plungers reach their low point and begin upward movement, the two traveling valves 34 and 28 will seat and the two standing valves 17 and 19 will unseat. During upward movement of the plungers the liquid in the sucker rod tubing 31 will be lifted. The liquid trapped in the upper section 15a of the lower barrel 15 will now flow through the branch passageway 37 into the main passageway 27 and up through the auxiliary traveling valve and connecting rod 23 into the upper section of the upper barrel 14. From the upper barrel this fluid will pass through outlet ports 29 into the open pipe 10 to be conveyed to the surface.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 2A through 2G, as well as FIGURE 3, which show a pump constructed in accordance with this invention.

Referring lirst to FIGURE 2A, the connecting rod 39 has an enlarged sub 41 thereon for seating the upper packer, as will appear below. The hollow rod 39 extends completely through that portion of the structure shown in FIG. 2A.

The portion of the pump body shown in this ligure includes the top seal pump guide 42, the top seal retainer 43 threaded thereto, and the top seal connector 44.

Outlet ports 45 are provided in the top seal guide 42.

The top seal is provided by a cup 46 carried on the top seal sleeve 47 which is spread by relative downward movement of the `top seal guide 42. This motion is provided by the telescope action of the top seal retainer 43 and the top seal connector 44. It will be noted that the lower end of the top seal retainer is enlarged at 43a to cooperate with shoulders 44a and 44h which provide limiting stops.

Referring now to FIGURE 2B, the portion of the body shown in this figure includes the lower end of the top seal connector 44, a collar extension 48 and a tube 49. The collar extension and tube provide a portion of the upper pump barrel.

The lower end of rod 39 is threaded to adapter 51 which in turn is threadedly connected to cage 52 for the upper traveling valve 53.

The upper end of the top plunger is shown in this figure and includes the cross-over adapter 54 which is threaded to the cage 52. The upper end of the connecting rod 55 is secured to adapter 54. There are a plurality of passageways 56 for conducting liuid from the upper pump barrel. There are also a plurality of passageways 57 through the adapter 54 which convey fluid from the connector rod 55 to the upper portion of the upper barrel.

Referring now to FIGURE 2C, the tube 49, the extension collar 58 and the upper end of the standing valve cage 59 form the portions of the pump body shown in this figure. The plunger tube 61 is secured to the lower end of the cross-over adapter 54 to complete the upper plunger. The connecting rod 55 extends entirely through the portion of the structure shown in this ligure.

Referring now to FIGURE 2D, the standing valve body 62 together with the lower end of the standing valve cage 59 and the packing housing 63 forms portions of the body shown in this iigure. The connecting rod 55 extends entirely through the portion of the body shown in this figure.

The seal means for sealing between the body and the connecting rod 55 is indicated ygenerally at 64. In the illustrative embodiment suitable chevron packing provides this seal.

At the upper end of the standing valve body .62 a suitable valve seat 65 is provided. Upper inlet port means are provided by a plurality of ports 66 communieating with the annulus 67. The valve seat 65 has a plurality of ports 65a which register with the annulus 67. The standing valve member 68 has a conical seating surface 68a which mates with a complementary surface on top of the valve seat to control flow through the upper inlet ports.

Referring now to FIGURE 2E, the body portion shown in this ligure includes the lower end of the packing housing 63 and the tube 69 which also provides the lower barrel.

The connecting rod 23 has its lower end connected to cage 71 which carries the auxiliary traveling valve indicated generally at 72.

The cage 71 is connected to the open cage 73 which carries the traveling valve 74 for the lower plunger which is provided by the cage 73 and the plunger tube 75. It will be noted that the open cage 73 provides the branch passageways 76.

Referring now to FIGURE 2F, the plunger 64 carries a second closed cage 76 at its lower extremity in which another traveling valve 77 is confined. The two traveling valves 74 and 77 are utilized so that in the event one .traveling valve becomes inoperative, the other valve remains in service.

The barrel 69 continues through FIGURE 2F and connects to the upper end Vof standing valve cage 78.

Referring now to FIGURE 2G, the lower end of lthe pump is shown. The body includes the lower portion of cage 78 to which is secured the seating mandrel 79. This mandrel carries the lower seal means provided by cups 81 held between cup rings V82. The seating cup nut 83 holds the lower seal assembly in place.

The lower standing valve 84 is carried `in the cage 78. In operation, a suitable latching and landing sub, not shown, will be positioned in the casing between the .two formations to be produced.

The pump of FIGURES 2A through 2G will be run into the well on hollow sucker tubing. As the pump reaches landing position, the seals 81 will engage the sub within the casing and effect therewith a lower seal in the casing. Conventionally, there will be connected to the lower end of the pump a device, not shown, for latching the pump in place. This latching device forms no part `of the invention, and may be provided by many forms of well known apparatus, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

UP Until this time the upper end of the cross-over adapter 54 is in engagement with the lower end of the top seal retainer 43. The top Seal retainer is in its up position where the portion 43a of the top seal retainer engages shoulder 44b of the top seal sleeve. Thus, the

wedging ring 84 is out of engagement with cup 46 which due to its natural resiliency is contracted to permit it to freely pass into the casing. As the sucker tube is further lowered into the well, the enlarged sub 41 engages the upper end of the tube seal guide 42 and forces it downwardly into the position shown in FIGURE 2A where the seal 46 is spread int-o engagement with the casing. This seal will be positioned above the upper producing formation. At this time the pressure across this seal will be equal. However, as pumping commences the standing column of fluid above the pump will exert a greater pressure than upper formation pressure and there will be a downwardly directed differential across the upper seal 46. This downward pressure will be exerted across an area which is slightly larger than the pressure responsive area exposed to the upper formation pressure. This dif` ference in area will be approximately the area of the threaded portion 42a of the top seal guide 42.

Further downward movement will move the pump plungers into the position shown in FIGURES 2A through 2G and the pump is now ready for service.

Upon further downward movement of the sucker tubing 39, the upper and lower pump plungers will move downwardly in their respective barrels. When this occurs, the upper traveling valve 53 will unseat while the upper standing valve 68 will seat, and fluid in the lower portion of the upper barrel will flow past traveling valve 53 into the tubing 39.

In the lower section of the pump, the standing valve 84 will seat and the two traveling valves 74 and 77 will unseat, permitting the iluid to ow into the upper section of the lower barrel provided by the tube 69. If nothing but liquid is present, the auxiliary Valve 72 will unseat and some of the liquid will flow into the passageway 85 within the connecting rod 55 and thence up through the cross-over ports 57 and into the upper section of the upper working barrel. From this point this fluid exits through ports 45 into the .annulus between the casing and the sucker rod 39.

Upon upward movement of the sucker tubing 39, the three traveling valves seat, the upper standing valve 68 and the lower standing valve 77 unseat, and fluid is sucked into the lower section of both the upper and lower barrels. The cycle is then repeated upon downward movement of the sucker tubing.

From the above it will be .apparent that the barrel for each of the upper and lower pumps is limited in diameter only by the diameter of the housing as the inner wall of the housing provides the pump barrel in both cases. As ilow from the lower pump is through the connecting rod, the necessity for several concentric tubes to convey iluid is eliminated. The arrangement permits standing and traveling valves of adequate Size for the volume of iluid to be pumped.

It will be appreciated that the connecting rod 55 may have its length varied at will, and in like manner the tubes 69 and 49 may be lengthened if desired. It is pointed out7 however, that the positioning of the sub for sealing within seal rings 81 immediately below the upper producing formation will eliminate the need for changing the length of the pump for each well as the pump will normally have adequate length to bridge the upper producing formation. If an uncommonly large depth of producing sand is perforated, then the pump may be lengthened to `accommodate such sand. Normally, however, this problem will not be encountered and the standard pump will be adequate, thus eliminating the need for carefully measuring connecting rods and tubing, as is required with many pumps in use today.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a two-zone pumping apparatus having upper and lower pump plungers reciprocable in upper and lower barrels,

a connecting rod between the two units having a passageway therethrough receiving Huid from the lower barrel,

a passageway through the upper plunger receiving fluid from the connecting rod and conveying it to the upper section of the upper barrel,

an outlet in the upper section of the upper barrel for escape of iluid therefrom,

and a rod connected to the upper plunger for reciprocating said upper plunger,

said upper plunger and rod having a passageway therethrough in communication with the lower section of the upper pump barrel for receiving -uid therefrom.

2. In a two-zone pump having upper and lower interconnected plungers reciprocal in upper and lower barrels and pumping uid from two spaced inlet points,

the improvement which comprises the combination therewith of a valve controlled passageway through both plungers and their interconnection,

an outlet port connecting the upper barrel with the exterior of the pump,

and a valve controlled passageway through the upper plunger and the actuating rod for the pump.

3. A well pump comprising,

a pump body including upper and lower pump barrels,

lower inlet port means connecting the exterior of the body with the lower section of the lower pump barrel,

a standing valve controlling flow through the lower inlet port means,

upper inlet port means connecting the exterior of the body with the lower section of the upper barrel,

a standing valve controlling ilow through the upper port means,

upper and lower pump plungers reciprocating in the upper and lower barrels, respectively,

means connecting the two pump plungers together,

seal means between said connecting means and body,

a passageway extending through said pump plungers and connecting means,

a. lower traveling valve controlling ow through said passageway,

outlet port means connecting the exterior of the body with the upper section of the upper barrel,

a rod connected to the upper pump plunger for reciprocating said plungers,

a passageway through said rod and upper pump plunger,

an upper traveling valve in said last mentioned passage- Way,

and seal means on the body below the outlet end of the outlet port means and above the inlet ends of the two inlet port means.

4. A well pump comprising,

a pump body including upper and lower pump barrels,

lower inlet port means connecting the exterior of the body with the lower section of the lower pump barrel,

a standing valve controlling flow through the lower inlet port means,

upper inlet port means connecting the exterior of the body with the lower section of the upper barrel,

a standing valve controlling flow through the upper port means,

upper and lower pump plungers reciprocating in the upper and lower barrels, respectively,

means connecting the two pump plungers together,

seal means between said connecting means and body,

a passageway extending through said pump plungers and connecting means,

a lower traveling valve controlling llow through said passageway,

outlet port means connecting the exterior of the body with the upper section of the upper barrel,

a rod connected to the upper pump plunger for reciprocating said plungers,

a passageway through said rod and upper pump plunger,

an upper traveling valve in said last mentioned passage- Way,

seal means on the body below the outlet end of the outlet port means and above the inlet ends yof the two inlet port means,

and seal means .on the body between the inlet ends of the upper and lower inlet port means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HolTer 103-4 Holler 103-46 Morris et al. 103-46 Scrivner 103-4 Massey 103-4 LAURENCE V. EFNER, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A TWO-ZONE PUMPING APPAATUS HAVING UPPER AND LOWER PUMP PLUNGERS RECIPROCABLE IN UPPER AND LOWER BARRELS, A CONNECTING ROD BETWEEN THE TWO UNITS HAVING A PASSAGE WAY THERETHROUGH RECEIVING FLUID FROM THE LOWER BARREL, A PASSAGEWAY THROUGH THE UPPER PLUNGER RECEIVING FLUID FROM THE CONNECTING ROD AND CONVEYING IT TO THE UPPER SECTION OF THE UPPER BARREL, AN OUTLET IN THE UPPER SECTION OF THE UPPER BARREL FOR ESCAPE OF FLUID THEREFROM, AND A ROD CONNECTED TO THE UPPER PLUNGER FOR RECIPROCATING SAID UPPER PLUNGER, 